Emergency by-pass system



Feb. 27, 1951 F. R. WEYMOUTH EMERGENCY BY-PASS SYSTEM Filed Sept. 12, 1945 mm W- qQ w wvmmwmmv. mm .W 00 MW INVENTOR FREDERICK R. WEYNOl/TH Patented Feb. 27, 1951 EMERGENCY BY-PASS SYSTEM Frederick R. Weymouth, Buiiaio, N. Y., assignor to BellAircraft Corporation, Wheatfield, N. Y.

Application. September 12, 1945, Serial No. 615,788

4 Claims. (01. 257'2) My invention relates in general to emergency by-pass systems and in particular to a system for use upon airplanes. to by-pass .a circulating liquid such as the engine lubricating oil or coolant for the engine, in the event of damage such as by gun fire to the radiator which is normally employed to cool such liquids.

The principal object of my inventionhas been to provide an improved device whereby upon damage to the radiator the liquid will be bypassed around such radiator, thereby assuring continued circulation of the liquid through the engine of the system, and at the same time avoiding loss of liquid.

Another object has been to provide a device for use in such systems which shall be automatic in operation.

Moreover, the device is small and compact in design and capable of continued service without attention.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the center line of the by-pass device, and including a diagram of the electrical connections; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view take on line IIII of Fig. 1.

The device comprises a cylindrical casing 5 having a bore 6 extending throughout its length, and closed at one end by an integral wall Ill and storage tank of the system (not shown). The sleeves M and I5, therefore, form a part of the return passageways from the radiator.

Slidably mounted. within the bore 6 of the casing is a hollow plunger valve 25 closed atone end by means of a laterally arranged cylindrical wall 2 I'. This wall provides a lateral passageway 22 which is in registration with the sleeves M and I5 when the plunger valve is in its normal position as shown in Fig. 1. When in this position, heated liquid flowing from the engine or 7 other supply means passes from sleeve l3 across at the opposite end by an end head I l, preferably screw-threaded into the end of the bore. The casing is provided with integral laterally extending sleeves l2 and I3 near one end thereof which are shown to lie coaxial and which provide means for attaching suitable conduits (not shown) for normally conveying liquid to various parts of the liquid circulating system. The sleeve 12 is preferably connected to the radiator for conducting liquid thereto, and the sleeve 13 is connected to the conduit which conveys heated liquid from the engine or other supply means'l-not shown). This pair of sleeves, therefore, provides apart of the supply passageways to the radiator. Arranged near the opposite end of the casing are two laterally extending sleeves l4 and 1-5. The sleeve i4 is adapted to 'be connected to the conduit conveying liquid returning from the radiator H of the system. The sleeve I5 is formed with a bore 56 of Venturi-shape, and liquid returning through the sleeve it is forced through the Ven- 'tu-ri sleeve to be conducted thereby into any suitable connections leading to the pump intake or plunger and "the head ll.

passageways 23 and 24 in the valve 2!! which then lie in registering positions with the sleeves l3 and I2, respectively; and thence out throu h sleeve l2 into the radiator supply conduit. The liquid when returning from the radiator, passes through sleeve 14, cylindrical wall 2|, and thence through the Venturi bore l6 of sleeve 15 to the storage tank and/or pump from whence it is conducted again to the engine as required. The plunger valve 2!] is maintained in the normal position shown by means of a helical spring 25 which is mounted about a spring guide 26 carried by a stud 38 formed on the end of the plunger valve and extending into the bore 3! of the cylindrical extension of the end head l'l.

The plunger valve is adapted to move from its normal position as viewed inFig. 1 to the right to interrupt the flow of fluid through sleeves l2 and. Mbut to allow it to be conducted from sleeve l3 directly to sleeve 15. this, passageways 33 and 35. are formed in the wall of the plunger valve and on each side of the passageway 23 thereof. The apertures 33 and 34 are sospaced that they will come into registering positions with the passageways of sleeves l3 and 15, respectively, when the plunger valve has been moved to the right in Fig. l and to its emergency position. When moved to this position it will be obvious that passageways 22 and 24' will be. closed by the imperforated Wall of the casing, thus preventing any of the fluid supplied to the valve from passing out through the sleeve [2.

5A cylindrical boss '35 is arranged at one end of the casing 5 adjacent the sleeve I5 and it is formed with a liquid chamber 36. A passageway 40' is formed in the wall of the cylinderadjacent the head I I whereby liquid communication may be had between the fluid chamber 36 and the space '31 in the cylinder between the 'end of the A liquid passageway M is formed in the boss 35 and wall of the sleeve 15' opening up into the Venturi-shaped bore Hi In order to accomplish 3 thereof whereby liquid may pass from the bore of this sleeve to the liquid chamber 36. A valve 42 is mounted within the chamber having a head 43 for engagement with a seat 44 formed at the outer end of the passageway 4|. This valve is also provided with a stem 45 which extends through a circular wall 46 formed at the end of the liquid chamber 36. A helical spring 50 mounted about the stem 45 bears against the head 43.

of the valve 42 and also against the circular wall 46, whereby the valve head is kept normally pressed against its valve seat 44. When the passageway M is opened by the opening of the valve' 42, as will hereinafter be described, a differential pressure will be created between the liquid contained in the space 31 of the casing and that flowing through the Venturi tube, causing a suction to be produced in the passageway 4|. This suction will cause liquid to be drawn from the chamber 35 and from the space 37 through the port 40. Such difierential pressure will cause the plunger valve 20 to be moved to the right from the position of Fig. 1 to its emergency position where passageways 22 and 24 will be cut off, as above pointed out; and the liquid will be caused to flow directly from sleeve I3 through the hollow plunger valve to sleeve IS, the passageway 23 being closed by the wall of the cylinder. Thus it will be understood .that when the valve 20 is in its emergency position the liquid of the system will be by-passed relative to the radiator portion of the system while still permitting circulation of liquid through the engine of the system.

In order to keep the plunger valve 20 in such position that its openings will always be maintained in registrable positions with the coacting openings of the casing or cylinder, I provide this valve with a spline with which a screw 52, carried by the casing engages. The valve 20 is also provided preferably at a point opposite the spline 5| with a longitudinal groove 53 for normally equalizing the pressure on both sides of the partition wall 2| of the valve. Formed in the casing and communicating with this groove is an air bleeder opening 54 which is connected by suitable means to the storage tank whereby air may be removed from the liquid as required to prevent air locking.

A solenoid 55 serves to operate the valve 42. Thi solenoid is carried by a solenoid retainer 56 which is preferably attached to the boss 35 by being screw-threaded into the outer end thereof. Mounted within the retainer is a solenoid plunger 60 which is slidable within a suitable bore 6| formed therein. The plunger 60 is connected to the end of the valve stem 45, whereby the valve 42 will be drawn off from its seat when the solenoid is energized, thus initiating actuation of the plunger valve 20 to it emergency position.

In Fig. 1 I have shown in diagrammatic manner the electrical circuits and appliances for bringing about the operation of the solenoid. As herein illustrated, 62 represents a battery and 63 a relay having normally open contacts 64. The

.device is designed to be used in connection with the well known McLarren Screen 65 which oomprises in effect a series conductor for electric current designed to be placed about or in the .vicinity of the radiator of the system so that damage to the radiator will cause the screen to be broken thereby interrupting the circuit thereof.

As shown in the drawings, this screen is connected in a circuit extending from the battery through a suitable resistor 66 and operating coil 4 10 of the relay through a switch N. This switch 7| is designed so as to be closed when the motor or engine being served by the system is started. Current will then flow through the screen, resistor, and coil 1,0 of the relay causing its contacts 64 to be opened, in which position they will be normally maintained.

Should the radiator become damaged from any cause the McLarren Screen will also be damaged thus interrupting the circuit just above mentioned. With the interruption of current, the relay contact 64 will be closed, thus closing a circuit through the solenoid 55 and causing current to flow through the winding thereof. When the solenoid is energized, the solenoid plunger 60 will be drawn within the retainer, thus opening the valve 42. As above described, coolant flowing past the exposed end of the passageway 4| will draw fluid from such passageway thereby reducing the pressure in the space 31 and causing the valve 20 to be operated to its emergency position as above described.

It is obvious that, while I have shown and described but one form and application of the invention, some detailed modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a radiator of an emergency radiator by-pass device, said .device comprising a cylindrical casing, a plunger valve slidably mounted within said casing, said casing being formed with through inlet and. through outlet passageways connected to the radiator inlet and outlet conduits respectively, said outlet passageway being of Venturi shape, said plunger valve being ported for normal,communication with said through inlet passageway, said plunger valve being also ported for normal communication with said through outlet passageway, wherebycooling fluid will normally flow through said inlet passageway to said radiator, means for moving said plunger valve to close said through inlet and outlet passageways, said valve being formed with intercommunicating emergency openings ,for intercommunicating said through inlet and outlet passageways, while preventing flow of fluid therethrough to or from said radiator when said valve is in its emergency position, said valve moving ,means comprising a piston formed on one end of said valve, a cylinder formed on said casing for mounting said piston, spring means for maintaining said valve in .normal position, valved passageways connecting the Venturi shaped portion of said outlet passageway with said cylinder to convey difierentialpressure forces therein operable to withdraw said plunger valve to move it to its emergency position, a port valve ,located in the last mentioned passageway to normally close the same, and emergency controlled means to unseat said port valve to cause said plunger valve to move to .its

conditions, a fluid chamber formed at each end of said plunger valve, means for balancing the pressure in said chambers, ,the outlet of said housing being of Venturi shape, a normally closed fluid passageway connecting one of said chambers with said outlet, a solenoid port valve mounted insaid passageway for opening the same under emergency conditions to create a differential pressure in said chambers to cause said plunger valve to be moved to its emergency position, whereby the fluid will baby-passed through said device, and means for operating said solenoid port valve comprising a circuit including in series a power source and the coil of.said solenoid valve and the contacts of said relay, whereby upon disruption of said electric conductor said relay is deenergized and the ,contacts thereof close to complete the circuit energizin said solenoid coil to displace said port valve to open position.

3. In combination, a radiator and an emergency radiator by-pass, device comprising a casing formed with through inlet and through outlet passageways connected to the radiator inlet and outlet conduits respectively, said outlet passageway being of Venturi shape, a.plunger valve slidably mounted within said casing and ported for normal communication separately with said through inlet passageway and with said through outlet passageway whereby cooling fluid will normally flow through said inlet passageway to said radiator and thence back through said outlet passageway, means for moving said valve to emergency position to close said through inlet and outlet passageways, said valve being formed with another opening therethrough for intercommunieating when in emergency position said through inlet and outlet passageways while preventing flow of ,fluid therethrough to or from said radiator, said valve moving means comprising a piston formed on one end of said valve, a cylinder formed in said casing for mounting said piston, springmeans for maintaining said valve in normal position, passageways connecting the Venturi shaped portion of said outlet passageway with said cylinder to convey differential pressure forces therein operable to withdraw said valveto move it to its emergency position, a port valve located in the last mentioned passageway to normally close the same, and emergency controlled means to unseat said port valve to cause said valve to,move to its emergency position.

4. In an emergency fluid by-pass system, the combination with an electric conductor adapted to be broken upon being damaged, and a source of electric energy ,connected to said conductor, an emergency fluid by-pass device comprising a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a plunger valve mounted within said housin and adapted to be ,moved to emergency position to permit fluid to be by-passed therethrough under emergency conditions, a fluid chamber formed at each end of said plunger valve, means for balancing the pressurein said chambers, the outlet of said housing being of Venturi shape, a normally closed fluid passageway connecting one of said chambers with said outlet, a solenoid port valve mounted in said passageway for opening the same under emergency conditions to create a difierential pressure in said chambers to cause said plunger valve to be moved to its emergency position, whereby the fluid will be by-passed through said device, and means for operating said solenoid port valve comprising a circuit including in series a power source and the coilof said solenoid valve and said conductor, whereby upon disruption of said conductor said solenoid is energized to displacesaid port valve to open position.

FREDERICK R. WEYMOUTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,297,836 Gulick Mar. 18, 1919 1,935,119 Guild Nov. 14, 1933 1,961,599 Schwitzer June 5, 1934 2,389,555 Sharples Nov. 20,1945 2,404,936 Wills July 30, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 495,422 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1938 

